At stake in this election:

Description of government structure:

Assembly: United States has a bicameral Congress consisting of the Senate with 100 seats and the House of Representatives with 435 seats.

* The president is both the chief of state and head of government. The president is popularly through a system involving the electoral college. Each state receives a number of electoral college votes equal to its two Senators it has plus its number of seats it has in the House of Representatives, which is based on its population. A candidate must receive a majority of electoral votes (at least 270) to be elected president. The president serves a four-year term, for a maximum of two terms.

Description of electoral system:

The President is elected by an electoral college to serve a 4-year term.

In the Senate 100 members are elected by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms*. In the House of Representatives 435 members are elected by simple majority vote to serve 2-year terms.**

* The states of Georgia and Louisiana require an absolute majority of votes to be elected.

** The states of Georgia and Louisiana require an absolute majority of votes to be elected.

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

George W. BUSH*

Party: The Republican Party

Albert GORE, Jr.**

Party: The Democratic Party

Ralph NADER

Party: Green Party

Patrick BUCHANAN

Party: The Reform Party

* George W. Bush received 271 votes in the electoral college.

** Albert GORE, Jr. received 266 votes in the electoral college.

Last Presidential election:

Presidential Elections were last held on November 5, 1996. President William CLINTON received 49.2% of the vote, thereby defeating Robert DOLE, his closest competitor, with 40.7% of the vote.